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Running really hot

S

skier777

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 3, 2010
325
6
My Mid-2010 15in MBP has been running really hot for some time now. I have three browsers, itunes and preview open and the fans are getting up to 5000 and internal temps up to 65degreesC, you can imagine what happens with PS, Illustrator, Rhino and Autocad. Its a mess.

Apple wont really fix this issue as much as I push them to do something about it. When I take the computer in everything checks out as working normally, but my Apple Care warrantee expires soon and im worried that this machine isn't going to last that long if it maintains these high temps.

Has anyone had any experience dealing with apple on this issue, or fixing an overly hot MBP? I know they tend to be warm and dissipate the heat out through the aluminum shell, but this seems to be abnormal.
 
skier777 said:
My Mid-2010 15in MBP has been running really hot for some time now. I have three browsers, itunes and preview open and the fans are getting up to 5000 and internal temps up to 65degreesC, you can imagine what happens with PS, Illustrator, Rhino and Autocad.
Click to expand...
Your temps are quite normal.

The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat. CPU Tjmax = 105C (221F), GPU Tjmax = 100C (212F) on i3, i5, i7 processors. (Source: Intel)

Unless there is a rare defect in a Mac, most temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload being put on it. Websites with Flash content, games and other multimedia apps will put higher demand on the CPU/GPU, generating more heat. This is normal. If you're constantly putting high demands on your system, such as gaming or other multimedia tasks, expect temps to rise and fans to spin up accordingly. It's just your Mac doing its job to maintain temps within the normal range.

It is also quite normal for your Mac to become extremely hot to the touch during intensive operations. The aluminum body transfers heat more effectively than other materials used in computer casings, so you will feel the heat more. This doesn't indicate that it's overheating and will not harm the computer to be hot to the touch.

Your fans are always on when your Mac is on, spinning at a minimum of 2000 rpm (for MBPs) or 1800 rpm (for MBAs, MBs and minis). iMacs have 3 fans with minimum speeds in the 800-1200 range. They will spin faster as needed to keep temps at a safe level.

If your fans are spinning up without increased heat, try resetting the SMC.
(PRAM/NVRAM has nothing to do with these issues, so resetting it will not help.)

The intake and exhaust vents are in the back of the computer near the hinge on all Mac notebooks (except the new MBP with retina display, which has intake vents along the sides at the bottom). The iMac vent is a slot on the back near the top of the computer. Make sure the vents remain unblocked to allow your computer to perform at its best.

Learn about the fans in your Mac
Apple Portables: Operating temperature

For Flash-related issues:
 
GGJstudios said:
Your temps are quite normal.
Click to expand...


65C with fans @ 5000 rpm under light load is 'normal' to you?

No, skier777, I'm afraid it is not. GGJStudios seems to have developed a personal war against anyone that wants to state it's possible for a MBP to run cooler than maximum junction temperature.

Please feel free to read, and draw your own conclusions. I am happy to help in any way possible.
 
Doward said:
65C with fans @ 5000 rpm under light load is 'normal' to you?

No, skier777, I'm afraid it is not. GGJStudios seems to have developed a personal war against anyone that wants to state it's possible for a MBP to run cooler than maximum junction temperature.
Click to expand...
Tjmax is 105C, not 65C. Unless you know what web content is being viewed on 3 browsers, you have no idea whether the workload is light or not. I have no war against anything but the misinformation and FUD being spread in several threads. Trying to convince everyone that their Macs have heat problems when they're not is not doing a service to this forum.
 
Anything in your activity monitor that looks to be running your cpu at full load?

I remember my fathers 2011 macbook pro would always be hot and running it's fans unusually long. So I checked his activity monitor and saw an HP scanner/printer process showing 60%-100% cpu usage. Uninstalled the HP crap and his computer went back to normal.

If it doesn't show anything then i suggest taking your computer to a different apple store.
 
GGJstudios said:
Tjmax is 105C, not 65C. Unless you know what web content is being viewed on 3 browsers, you have no idea whether the workload is light or not. I have no war against anything but the misinformation and FUD being spread in several threads. Trying to convince everyone that their Macs have heat problems when they're not is not doing a service to this forum.
Click to expand...

Hopefully the OP will respond and let us know.
 
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